Just got my first gun in the wooden box and want to know how to store. Is it preferable to just leave in the box or not?

Thanks and pic to follow.

I never store any handgun in a box. Just being moved around can rub marks on the nice polish. Some exceptions might be a Glock, but I don't have any of those.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

What H. R. said.
I have never sen a Glock in a presentation Box,
but it could happen!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I stored several N Frames in their presentation boxes. The blue lining disintegrated and made a few spots on the grips. Metal wasn't harmed thank goodness. Polished out the spots on the grips. I relined the presentation case inserts with cloth and put the revolvers back in their cases over 20 years ago. They are fine. Maybe I'm lucky. I'm sure it's safer not to store them in presentation cases, especially if they have the original linings.

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SWCA #3713

If I had a big walk-in gun vault room that was climate controlled I would. I would put it on a shelf and leave the lid open for display. BTW presentation Boxes for Glocks are called "holsters"

I wrap mine up in S&W factory VCI parchment paper and store them in pistol rugs.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I've been using the little towels I steal from the gym with a touch of clp then in to the safe with a couple of desiccant things from cabelas.

I never store my guns in presentation cases. I think if you do store them in a case for any extended amount of time you are asking for trouble. It’s wear on the case as well. Some presentation cases are more delicate than others, but over time any case will wear some.

I have 13 presentation boxes which are designated for 13 different n-frame guns. Each has a card in it with the model and serial number of the revolver to go with it. I NEVER store the guns in the boxes.

The guns are stored in a dry gun safe. The shooters get a light coating of CLP and the collectibles get a coating of RenWax. This works for me, but may not be the best way for other gun owners.

If I had any glox, I would store them under the seat of my pickup truck, with no rags or cases.

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John
SWCA #3401 SWHF #737

I never store guns in presentation cases. My cases also have a business card with the gun's data written on it and kept in the case. All cases are kept in a cardboard box, separated by sheets of acid free paper. My guns are wrapped in VCI paper and stored in the safe.

In addition to the coating/lining on the inside of the cases, the plastic liners themselves weren’t meant to support the weight of the guns and are easily cracked. I think they were intended to look nice in a dealer display and then stored away empty by the new owner.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Gotta love a p&r M29 long barrel nickle plate.

I'll have to clear out an extra secure spot in the safe for this one.

Guns are best stored in your safe.
Boxes are for shipping.
Presentation boxes are for looking at.

Never in a box. For over 20 years I've stored my handguns in new clean foot socks. You can pack 'em" like sardines and none will ever get a mark.

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S&W Accumulator

I use gun bags for everything. So, I have a box of nicely wrapped empty boxes and presentation cases. Wood absorbs and releases moisture- a bad thing around guns.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

I have two commemorative S&W 66s stored in their presentation boxes. They have been so stored since I purchased them new thirty-nine years ago in 1981. Every three to five years, I wipe them down with a lightly oiled cloth. Never waxed or polished, the guns appear new.

I also store several of my guns in their presentation boxes, and have had no problems whatsoever.

Socks are cheaper and do the same thing.

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S&W Accumulator

Not presentation, but boxes can be useful for storage.

Bagged and tagged...

bdGreen

You're lucky.
This was my 1982 8 3/8" nickle Model 27-2.
The lining disintegrated and almost ruined the Target grips.
Yu can see the lining where it stuck to the grip.
Fortunately it never damaged the nickle.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I have stored a number of N frames within the presentation case for many years..no issues at all

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

I like that. I have all of mine in those Bore Stores cases also but, mine are older and don't have a tag hanging on most of them. I need to find a way to label them.

I'm still of the school that says what you store them in isn't as important as where you store them. I've been fortunate to date mainly because for 40+ years all my guns (kept in every type of gun container imaginable) have been stored 'high & dry' in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment. Zero issues ever.

Sadly, that's going to have to change when we move to our retirement place this summer and I am a little sick about it. But that's another story for another time.

My S&W M29-2 has been in its presentation box since new. Box and revolver are doing just fine, thank you!

I bought a very early production Ruger Super Blackhawk cheap because it'd always lived in the red felt lined mahogany box.

The felt left a stain everywhere it touched the high polish bluing. Looks like light rust in all those spots. You can't feel it with your fingernail but that stain is embedded in the bluing.

I use bulk-buy gun rugs (approx. $10 each...sales...sometimes $5 each). Higher end guns have fleece/Sherpa/etc lining guns rugs like Charles Daly/S&W/Browning/etc.

Each gun rug has a inexpensive key chain tag with Dynamo tape machine label identifying the make, model, caliber (no serial number). This makes it easy when going out to shoot...just grab the rug(s) containing what I want to shoot, into a range bag, grab other range bag with all necessary "stuff" and ammo. After cleaning and wipe down, back in the rug.

All wooden presentation cases, blue boxes, original docs, tools, are stored separately and cataloged on computer files.

Sorry for the pic quality. One of the kids snapped a cell phone pic of what we had out trying to decide what everyone wanted to take for a Thanksgiving shoot-out.

Never saw the need to tag and bag any long guns. If one doesn't honestly know the difference between a Garand and a Winchester Model 94....they best stay out of my gun room

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

I'm totally going to the post office, get some boxes and do this!

I keep the few I own in the presentation boxes when they are not being shot or cleaned. Wrap in vapor paper and put away. I never leave a gun in the safe over a month or two. It’s either being shot or at least being wiped down

The Bore Stores in that picture are brand new and came with a 'fixed' tag.

What I did was use removable glue dots to apply my own card paper tags on the ones on it already. Works just fine. You can peel them off and change them out as you need.

Now, the old Bore Stores without the 'factory' tags attached I just used the same card paper and stapled them on to the overwrap piece of material. The staples will in no way be exposed to create a concern with the gun and you can easily remove the stapled tag to replace with another as needed.

I try to go simple.

bdGreen

Bought a foam stand, but the n frames kept bumping each other. Then got a poly covered stand. The safe is an old Debold and ways around 3000lb and is amazing because how tight the door fits. 20200213_235758.jpg

i have an unfired 1956 .44 that I keep out of the black box. My other 29s i keep in their mahogany boxes